What a great phrasing — prepare the ground. Not just “prepare for an authentic experience,” but “prepare the ground” for that experience. As if whatever experience awaits us today will be powerful enough to not only shake us up but shake up the earth beneath our feet as well. Mm! Bellissimo.

In order to be balanced, I have to seek out earth and fire, so this idea of preparing the ground (earth) for an authentic experience (fire) needs to be my motto. It makes me think about being more physical, present, and driven. Traditionally, the 5 of Wands is about conflict — and let’s face it, sometimes conflict is a very authentic experience. Staff Pose reminds me to use conflict (even petty conflict) as a grounding and directed experience. Being challenged is a good thing for developmental growth. We learn about ourselves and others, and we can identify areas of change.